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Square. Central streets are beautifully decorated. Before Christmas, groups of
singers go from house to house. They collect money for charity and sing carols,
traditional Christmas songs. Many churches hold a carol service on the Sunday
before Christmas.
The fun starts the night before, on the 24th of December. Traditionally this is
the day when people decorate their trees. Children hang stockings at the end of their
beds, hoping that Father Christmas will come down the chimney during the night
and fill them with toys and sweets.
Christmas is a family holiday. Relatives usually meet for the big Christmas
dinner of turkey and Christmas pudding. And everyone gives and receives presents.
The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is an extra holiday after Christmas Day. This is
the time to visit friends and relatives or perhaps sit at home and watch football.
New Year's Day is less popular in Britain than Christmas. But in Scotland,
Hogmanay is the biggest festival of the year. Besides public holidays there are some
special festivals in Great Britain. One of them takes place on the 5th of November.
On that day, in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and
kill King James I. He didn't succeed. The King's men found the bomb, took Guy
Fawkes to the Tower and cut off his head.
Since that day the British celebrate the 5th of November. They burn a
dummy, made of straw and old clothes, on a bonfire and let off fireworks. This
dummy is called a "guy" (like Guy Fawkes) and children can often be seen in the
streets before the 5th of November saying, "Penny for the guy." If they collect
enough money they can buy some fireworks. There are also smaller, local festivals
in Britain [59].
1.1. Write TRUE or FALSE in front of each statement:
1. Public holidays in Britain are called bank holidays, because the banks
as well as most of the offices and shops are closed.